Halfords Incorporate New Techniques

Starting as a small hardware store in 1892, Halfords has now become a huge business having 370 superstores and an online presence. The company works in two main areas, car maintenance products and bicycles.

After first only selling car maintenance products, the company now also fits the parts for its customers, changing the company from a retailer to a service provider. In the last few months they have spent on training their workers for the tasks involved in the service and have also scheduled extra workers for the busiest times.

As for their bike sales, according to their Chief Executive David Wild, this area is a major one for income and is doing better each year. The business does well in offering an extended range of childrens' bikes and also has a focus on premium bikes.

Halfords now sell their products online. There were fears initially that an online option would impede customers coming into stores. After implementing it however they have learnt that around 80% of online customers still come in to stores. With a reserve and collect service, where the online user can choose a product and check which stores it is available in, shopping in store is actually becoming more attractive.

The online presence also brings new customers who otherwise would not shop at Halfords, but now do after seeing the company's offers online.

Source: Working Lunch, BBC. (21-01-2010)

Halfords Incorporate New Techniques

Accurist Watches Marketing

The famous british company that specialises in making wrist watches is strategising it's marketing to bump up its sales in these following months and years. A 2 year programme to invest more in their marketing programme includes a new TV campaign to run this year and next, and the costs for the reinvestments in marketing will be 5 times as much as they spent last year.

Accurist say they are known for their high quality and value for money products. They sell a diverse range of watches with some more expensive watches of up to around £1,500 pounds having precious metals and stones as well as cheaper priced watches of as little as £30 meant for the buyer who is happy with a watch having standard metals. Accurist are now incorporating the Versace brand in their selection as well to be aimed at a higher market which they never yet targeted.

The company expects to sell 600,000 pieces in the UK this year and with the promotions that are underway the figure is predicted to grow a further 10% next year.

Source: Working Lunch, BBC.

Accurist Watches Marketing